Dining
The 7 Best Pancakes in London
The best stacks in London, from bottomless American short stacks to Australian-style ricotta hotcakes and buildable crepes.
In short: our top picks are The Wolseley, Christopher's and Boundary. 7 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Pancakes in London split fairly cleanly into two camps: the tall American stack drenched in maple syrup, and the thinner, eggier hotcake favoured by the Australian brunch spots that took over the city a decade ago. Both have their place, and the better restaurants tend to do one style well rather than trying to cover everything on the same menu. This list mixes the reliable classics with the additions worth a detour for.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| The Wolseley | Piccadilly | £££ |
| Christopher's | Covent Garden | £££ |
| Boundary | Shoreditch | ££ |
| Players Social | Spitalfields | £££ |
| Drunch | Mayfair | ££ |
| The Diner | Camden | ££ |
| Granger & Co | Notting Hill | ££ |
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Editor’s choice
The Wolseley
Why we pick itStacked pancakes served with bacon or scattered with berries, ordered under the Wolseley's famous domed ceiling before 11.30am.
Worth knowingDependable rather than surprising. It sells atmosphere and consistency, and for some diners the food is the least interesting part of the visit.
Grand cafe brasserie
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Christopher's
Why we pick itThe weekend brunch menu runs to specials like matcha soft serve pancakes alongside a reliably good classic stack.
American grill
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Boundary
Why we pick itBottomless American pancakes with bacon and maple syrup, or mixed berries, served across most of the day rather than just at brunch.
Brasserie
-
Players Social
Why we pick itPancakes topped with mixed berries and bacon or caramelised banana and peanut butter, best eaten between rounds of shuffleboard.
Bar and games venue
-
Drunch
Why we pick itYou choose pancake, crepe or French toast format, then build it with toppings ranging from Nutella and strawberries to banoffee and dulce de leche.
Brunch restaurant
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The Diner
Why we pick itA straightforward stack of three with maple syrup, blueberries or banana, served in a booth under the retro signage.
American diner
-
Granger & Co
Why we pick itThe dish that started London's ricotta hotcake habit, served with fresh banana and honeycomb butter.
Australian all-day dining
Before you book
Weekend brunch slots fill up at the popular spots, so book ahead for Saturday or Sunday mornings and expect a wait if you turn up without a reservation.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
The Wolseley is our editor's choice: Stacked pancakes served with bacon or scattered with berries, ordered under the Wolseley's famous domed ceiling before 11.30am. The Wolseley, Christopher's and Boundary lead the guide, with 7 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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